LOS ANGELES - Thousands of workers,
immigrant-rights activists and other protesters will take part in May Day
marches and rallies today in support of causes ranging from better-paying jobs
to immigration reform, triggering street closures in downtown Los Angeles.
Rallies are planned throughout the day at
various locations, including one at Los Angeles International Airport in
connection with a one-day strike by janitors and other workers at the facility,
but downtown will be the main rallying point for protests by such groups as
Occupy L.A., the Youth Justice Coalition and Rise Up L.A. Occupy L.A. planned a
"May 1 Four Winds/General Strike" event involving four "caravans" converging on
downtown L.A.
The South Wind caravan will start at Cal
State Dominguez Hills in Carson, the West Wind at Wilshire Boulevard and Ocean
Avenue in Santa Monica, the North Wind at Panorama High School in the San
Fernando Valley, and the East Wind at Cesar Chavez and Atlantic Avenue in
Monterey Park.
The South Wind caravan will be joined by a
"feeder march" organized by Rise Up L.A. to protest the "Prison Industrial
Complex" and commemorate "the beginning of the L.A Rebellion." It will start at
Florence and Normandie, the flashpoint of the riots that devastated the city 20
years ago this week.
Around noon, protesters will gather at 41st
Street and Central Avenue, then head to Figueroa Street and Exposition Boulevard
before staging a 2:30 p.m. rally at Sixth and Main streets. A larger rally is
planned at 7 p.m. at Pershing Square.
Supporters of the Coalition for Humane
Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles will take part in a May Day march for jobs,
education and "peace in the world," with participants gathering at Olympic and
Broadway at 1 p.m. and marching an hour later north on Broadway. A rally is
planned for 3:30 p.m. at Broadway and First Street.
"We look forward to join students, unions,
workers, families, people of faith, civil rights advocates, elected officials,
business people and other allies to honor and celebrate the contributions of
every worker in American," said CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas.
Unionized service workers at Los Angeles
International Airport are planning a one-day strike beginning at 3 a.m. They
will start a march at noon from the Tom Bradley International Terminal, then
along the north side of the terminal area and eventually to Century Boulevard
and Avion Street.
Many of the same workers staged a protest at
the airport in March against what they called safety shortcuts being taken by
airline contractors working at the airport. Today's job action will occur amid
heightened security resulting from the one-year anniversary of the death of
Osama Bin Laden.
Airport police officials have said they were
working with the labor unions to ensure today's protests do disrupt passenger
traffic. Police, however, advised passengers, visitors and airport employees
that traffic congestion and delays are possible during the rally.
Airport police said travelers should give
themselves an extra 45 minutes to account for possible delays.
Motorists heading
to LAX on westbound Century Boulevard will be diverted north on Airport
Boulevard, then west on 96th Street to north Vicksburg Street and into the
terminal area.
Commuters in the downtown area, also could
find themselves dealing with traffic disruptions. According to the city's
Emergency Management Department, the following streets are expected to be closed
during the marches:
-- Broadway between 11th and Temple
streets;
-- First Street between Hill and Broadway;
and
-- Judge John Aiso between First and Temple
streets.
Metro warned its customers that while it
plans to offer regular service, a host of bus lines could be delayed or
detoured. The bus lines subject to disruption are 2, 4, 10, 14, 16, 316, 18, 20,
28, 30, 33, 40, 42, 45, 51, 52, 53, 55, 60, 66, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84,
68, 90, 91, 92, 94, 96, 439, 442, 460, 487, 489, 720, 728, 730, 733, 740, 745,
760, 794 and 910.
